Automatic switch for cigar-lighters, &amp;c.



C. F. CUNO. AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR CIGAR HGHTERS, &c.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, I919.

Patented June 1, 1920.

m L H a "T6 al 7 mi; zvimw 4 4. 7 m4 if MM citizen of the United CHARLES F. CUBIC, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNDE TO (JUNO ENG-Ihfiflliitlllilfi- CQRPQRATION, OF MERIDEN. CONNECTICUT, .3 GORIPOEATIOII O13 GGHNECTICU'JJ.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR CIGAR-LIGHTERS, 50,

1'; .n :4 Patented a une 3i, ridge.

Application filed September a, 191;). Serial l lo. 321,539.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLns F.

States of America, residing at Meriden, Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Automatic Switch for Cigar-Lighters, &c., lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to electric lighting devices and the like, of the type in which the device is carried by a long flexible cable conductor which is wound on a reel and arranged so that the said device may be drawn up close to be drawn out to an extended position for use. The reel is preferably controlled by a spring so as to normally draw the device toward it. The device carried by said flexible cable may be a lamp for illuminating purpose, or a piece of resistance wire for lighting cigars'or cigarettes, or it may be an electrical device useful for any purpose. For convenience, 1 shall describe my in vention herein as applied to a cigar lighting device, although by the selection of the term lighting device l donot wish to be understood as limiting the scope of appended. claims to any particular form of electrical device. i

The present invention includes many ad vantages, for example In the present device I provide means for causing the cable to be neatly wound on the reel when the latter is being rewound by its spring. I also provide an effective means for closing the circuit which means maintains thecontact surface bright and etiicient. The construction is also ,such that danger oi short circuiting is reduced to a minimum. 1 also construct the parts so that. after the cable has been par-- tially unwound from the reel the circuit will be closed automatically; and correspondingly when the cable is partially rewou'nd on the reel the circuit will be automatically opened, thus, it the lightingdevice should not happen to be drawn baclry to its full extent by the reel and it the cable should. not be fully rewound the circuit will remain open so thatthere will be no accidental drain on the battery. This is of particular value when the invention is employed relcigar lighting purposes since it not infrequently happens that when the lighting device is released from the hand, the cable is not fully wound "on the reeland the circuit Gone, a

of which the fol the reel when out of use, or may my invention, certain parts therefore remains closed, thereby un uly draining the battery. By my present invention this danger is wholly avoided by so constructing the various parts that the circuit is broken before the cable is fully wound on the reel. As illustrative of a device which is open to the danger above pointed out, I may refer to the construction set forth ininy own co-pending application. Serial Number 267,599 in which it will be seen the circuit is not broken until its cable is fully wound on the reel. By present invention the various parts are simplified and may be economi :ally producedand assembled.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1, is a transverse crosssection of beingbroken away and certain other parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2, is the longitudinal erese-section of the apparatus, certain parts being shown in elevation with the circuit open.

Fig. 3, is the perspective view of certain parts.

Fig. 4:, is a view of-a detail.

1 represents the main body of: the housing. 2 represents the front plate of said housing. This plate is provided with a pa.: sage bordered by a tlangei-l which forms a socket designed to support the lighting de vice when the latter is in its fully retract ed position. 4.- represents the body of a lighting; device said body having a short shank l which fits easily within the soclret 3. so as to hold the outer end of said device neatly against the front plate. The cable includes the two conductors 5-5 of lietrihle insulated wire. The reel construction. preterably includes an insulating hub (l on which is mounted two metallic head than" 5 7 and 8 said flanges being insulated each other by said hub. The conductor v 5 is in electrical connection. with one ""an 'i.

h M while the conductor wire a is elect ally connected to the other flange. ln the form brush 10 on flange 7 will mainthe surface bright and efficient. 1.1 is a .1 designed to bear against periphery of flange so as-to make a rubbing contact cwith. This brush is likewise carried by ousing l but need not be insulated there- 18 it shoe mounted on the housing tly of and preferably between "ushes 10- nnd'llQ This mounting at this shoe will normally move "seen the tinnges 7 and 8 and tob ub (i.

up on the reel, The shoe 12 also performs the function of causing the cable to reel neatly, s'nce'as the cable is wound it presses lightly upon the brush'lO so as to break the circuit. this the device 4 Wlli engage the housing 1 and stop we further winding of the cable.

The chanical operation between the shoe l" the contact brush 10 may be modified in -eat variety of ways but in this par:- ticul r inst-an e shoe 1% is provided with the lug or shoulder lQMrhich projects freely 1e brush 10. it isessentiei that the d be so insulated that it ll not short circuit when it engages the U. ibis insulation may be easily effected by niai; tne shoe oi some suitable i saluting lei. wl ch may have a s will not injure the on I suitsuitabie binding posts is? and ely. Gbviousiy since the flange d from the housing 1 and can I J. J. l in circuit by we brush lb the spense-c.

The shoe 1% has no elecn, but functions mechanicallyto open'tne ircuit by throwing on the brush it) when cable has been partially wound several spiral convolutions.

. i 1 1 When the cable has built up suificiently on,

20 the hub the shoe 1), wili engage and lift the After I of the cable windings on the reel moved thereby as said 'convolutions increase or (ii minish.

2. In a. device of the character described, a main support, a reel mounted thereon, said reel having two flanges, one of said'iianges being made of conducting material, a cable comprising two flexible conducting wires, said cable be ng carried by said reel, one of said conductors being electrically connected with said conducting-flange, a contact for makin and breaking the circuit, saidvcontact belng carried'by said main support and making. riibbing contact with the conducting flange" of the reel, mea-ns bearing on that :portion' of the cable Wound on the reel and movable thereby as theseveral convolutions increase or decrease, said means operating toelectrically disconnect said Contact from the conducting'portion of the reel and break the circuit when a sufficient number of con "volutions have been built up thereon.

3. In'adevice of the character described,

a main, support, a reel mounted thereon,

said reel having two flan es, one of said flang'es'bein'g made-of con ucting-inaterial,

a cable comprising two flexible conducting wires, said cable-being carried by said reel, one of said conductors being electrically connected with said con(li1ctingflange, a con tact for making and breaking the circuit, said contact being carried by said main sup port and making rubbing contact with the conducting flange of the reel, meansbearing on that portion: of the cable wound on the reel and movable thereby as the several con-.

volutions increase or decrease, said operatlng to electrically disconnect said coir-v tact from-the conducting portion of the reel and break the circuit when a sufh'cient number of convolutions have been built up there on, said means comprising a shoe cerried'by the support mechanically and electricaiiy independent of said contact.

4. In a device of the character described, a main support, a reel mounted thereon, said reel havingtwo flanges, one said flanges being made of conductinq mat 'al, a cable comprising two flexible conducting wires, said cable being carried by said reel,

one of said conductors being electrically connected with said conducting flange, at contact for making and breaking the circuit, said contact being carriedby said main support and making rubbing Contact with the conducting flange of the reel, means bearing on that portion of the cable wound on the reel and movable thereby as the several conrolutions increase or decrease, said means operating to electrically disconnect said contact from the conducting portion of the reci and break the circuit when a sufficient number of convolutions have been built up thereon, said means comprising a shoecarried by the support mechanically and electrically independent of said contact, said shoe having an extension arranged to engage and disengagesai'd contact.

5. In an apparatus of the cha 'acter described, a housing, a reel carried thereby, a

cable composed'ot' two flexible insulated wires secured to and a1 'ang'ed to wind on said reel, a spring operating to'turn the reel to wind the cable thereon, a current consuniing devicc.at the outer end of said cable, acontact for making and breaking the circuit through said conductors and current consuming, device. said contact being carried within said housing and means carried within said housing independently of said contact and ope 'ating to move the contact to open the circuit when the cable is partially wound on the reel.

(3; In an apparatus of the character described, a main support, a reel carried thereby, a cable composed of two flexible insu lated wires secured to and arranged to wind on said reel, a spring operating to turn the reel to wind the cable thereon, a current consuming device at the outer end of said cable, a contact 'for making and breaking the circuit through said coinluc'tors and current consuming: device, said contact being carried by said support and means carried by said support independently of said con tact and operating to move the contact to open the circuit when the cable is partially .wound on the reel, said means comprising a shoe arranged to bear lightly on the several convolutums oi the cable windings on the reel and ope 'ating to cause the same to build up evenly thereon.

T. In an apparatus of the character described, a reel having a hub of insulating material and having two hub flanges ot' conducting material insulated from each other by said hub, a cable comprising two flexible insulated wires secured respectively to said flanges, a current consuming, device carried by said cable at its outer end and in series with said wires, a source of current conductors leading therefrom to said flanges and the reel, a current consuming device carr :onsuming device, means independel" making engagement therewith by co: devices which respectively make rubbing; en gagement with the said flanges, a shoe arranged to bear toward the hub of said reei and upon the cable convolutions thereon, whereby said shoe will be moved as number of convolutions increase crease and a connection between said sl'l-oc and one of said contacts whereby when cable has beenpartially wound on said reet said shoe will engage and more one of sz it contacts to break the circuitfrom the sour of power to the current consuming device in one direction. a tiexible cable carried by may" at the outer end of the cable, a circa closer in the circuit in series with said o rent consuming device, and means i pendent of said circuit closer and Ilitfi by that part of the cable actually WOC upon the reel to control said circuit closy 9. In an apparatus of the charac scribed, a main support, a reel carried one. by and a coil spring for winding 5 in one direction, a flexible cable earn the reel, .a current consui ning device c at the outer end of the cable, a circuit clos in the circuit in series with said :3 said circuit closer and movable by-tbt p otthe cable actually wound upon the. res to control said circuit closer, said ms'ai operating to hold the circuit closer in the open circuit position until said current consuming device has been entit ely removed. from said support, and also operating to open said circuit before said current consuming device has reached said support on the rewinding of the cable.

streams F. cone. 

